The Annals of thoracic surgery
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In the conventional ascending replacement for acute type A aortic dissection, the distal aortic anastomosis is frequently performed at the dissected site, and postoperative residual dissection in the arch and downstream aorta still occurs in most patients. We used open placement of a fenestrated stent graft during this operation. ⋯ An open fenestrated stent graft placement provided extensive primary repair of the thoracic aorta and a strong distal aortic stump during the conventional ascending aorta replacement for acute type A aortic dissection but did not increase the risk or technical difficulty of the operation.
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Radiogenomic features are predictive of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ ALK-rearranged lung cancer has characteristic clinical and imaging features compared with EGFR mutant or WT/WT cohorts. Our findings suggest that young age, lobulated margin, solid lesion, and hypoattenuation at contrast-enhanced CT scan are important predictors of ALK-rearranged lung cancer.
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Readmission rates after major procedures are used to benchmark quality of care. We sought to identify readmission diagnoses and factors associated with readmission in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy. ⋯ Readmission is a frequent event after pulmonary lobectomy and is strongly associated with preoperative demographic factors and comorbidities. Resources and services should be directed to patients at risk for readmission and multicomponent care pathways developed that may circumvent the need for repeat hospitalization.
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Surgical procedures provide the best chance for cure and long-term survival in non-small cell cancer (NSCLC). Persistent symptoms after surgical procedures are common, and they can negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term effect of an interdisciplinary supportive care intervention to improve HRQOL, psychological distress, and symptoms in lung cancer survivors who were treated surgically. ⋯ An interdisciplinary supportive care intervention improves psychological distress and HRQOL at 12 months after lung cancer surgical procedures. This study has important implications in improving HRQOL of lung cancer survivors after surgical procedures. Further study is warranted on incorporating the interdisciplinary personalized interventions used in this study into clinical practice for lung cancer survivors.
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Allogeneic blood transfusion has been associated with immune modulation in other solid organ transplants. Within cardiothoracic surgery, allogeneic blood transfusion is associated with greater postoperative morbidity and mortality. We investigated the impact of allogeneic blood transfusion on rejection, function, and late mortality within lung transplantation. ⋯ All blood products administration regardless of amount transfused did not appear to affect early rejection outcomes or forced expiratory volume in 1 second expressed as percentage of forced vital capacity at 3 and 6 months. Use of RBC and FFP had no effect on survival. However, greater platelet usage appeared to adversely affect early but not late mortality.